~ Perspective from Vancouver

Urban Repairs in TO

If it wasn’t for Steve Ingrouille’s Transport Newsletter out of Melbourne, Australia, I probably wouldn’t know what was happening in Toronto, Canada:

Guerrilla Bike Lanes

Many cities worldwide have been subject to painters of unofficial cycle markings on urban streets and roadways, in attempt to ‘carve’ themselves out a safer space among all the motorized traffic. Untilrecently it appears these activists were unknown to each other, though now a number of websites and forums have started to appear to collectively archive instances from different locations and share information.

The Urban Repair Squad, are one of the more organized groups – they operate in Toronto, Canada and represent a group of unnamed activists, keen to see the city’s cycle lane infrastructure deployed sooner rather than later, given the authorities recently already delayed two years after promising new cycle routes, without implementing them. Their dissemination includes a downloadable ‘DIY infrastructure’ manual to share their method and objectives.

While these activities can’t be condoned, the fact that many have emerged from independent initiatives driven by similar concerns; perhaps goes some way to testify to an international desire for improved cyclist road safety. Also the need for cyclists to be taken seriously, and to be acknowledged as city road users.